Meet BD+C's 40 Under 40 class of 2013

Forty individuals who have distinguished themselves by their career achievements, service to their professions and communities, and active participation in charitable work.

May 08, 2013 |

Julie Higginbotham, Senior Editor

We’re pleased to present our Class of 2013 “40 Under 40” honorees. Along with the 280 previous recipients of this honor, dating from 2006, they represent the next generation of leadership in the AEC industry. These superstars range in age from 28 to 39 (as of December 31, 2012), with a median age of 36. They have been chosen by the editors of Building Design+Construction on the basis of three factors: career achievement, service to their professions and communities, and active participation in charitable work.

This year’s winners will be invited to join their 40 Under 40 peers—as well as up-and-coming professionals nominated by their firms—for three days of career development at our Third Annual BD+C “U40 Leadership Summit” in San Francisco, October 9-11, 2013. For more information, contact BD+C's Events Manager, Judy Brociek, at 847.954.7943 or jbrociek@sgcmail.com.

We'd like to thank our 40 Under 40 sponsors for their support of the awards program and U40 Leadership Summit:

RIGHT-MINDED BUILDER

CESAR RODRIGUEZ

Procurement & Construction

Service Manager

Make It Right Foundation,

New Orleans

AGE: 32

BA, University of Houston

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

A second-generation contractor, this political science major ran his own small construction/roofing firm and was headed to the Peace Corps when Hurricane Katrina hit.

Signed on with Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation, which builds LEED Platinum-certified, Cradle-to-Cradle-inspired homes for people in need. As of spring 2013 the organization had built 90 homes in the Lower 9th Ward.

Works with product manufacturers and suppliers to determine if their materials meet sustainability criteria. Negotiates on procurement, oversees contractors and subcontractors, and trains local laborers in green construction practices.

Assisting Make It Right outreach projects in New Jersey and Kansas City.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Serves as a media spokesperson for Make It Right.

Conducts numerous site tours for VIPs and major donors to view homes designed by “starchitects” (Thom Mayne, Shigeru Ban, David Adjaye, Frank Gehry).

Coordinates scheduling of volunteer events.

OFF THE CLOCK

Hobbies: running, cooking, motorcycle riding.

Can’t live without: text messages from his eight young nieces.

SECRET LIFE

Building a beach house in Huatulco, Mexico.

MR. COMMISSIONER

JAMES SINK, LEED AP BD+C

Senior Project Designer, Associate

HMC Architects, Los Angeles

AGE: 37

BArch, California State

Polytechnic University

MArch, Harvard University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Joined HMC in 2010 after stints at other firms, specializing in the design of higher education projects, particularly student residences.

Licensed engineer, California and Colorado; special expertise in seismic and wind issues.

Recent projects: Colorado State University Sonny Lubick Field Stadium, Denver Health and Hospitals Far Western Addition, Mesa State College Field House, and San Jose International Airport improvements.

Young Member Award, National Council of Structural Engineers Associations Annual Conference, 2012.

PARADIGM SHIFTER

SMITA RAWOOT

Principal

Perkins Eastman, Mumbai

AGE: 39

BArch, Sushant School of

Architecture

MArch, Pratt Institute

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Experienced in urban planning and mixed-use developments, as well as buildings for K-12, higher ed, hospitality, healthcare, senior living, and multifamily housing. Worked in India for several architectural firms before joining Perkins Eastman in 2001.

Returned to India in 2009 to establish the firm’s office in Mumbai. The branch has found a niche developing culturally adaptive senior living community models, such as Tata Vasindh Senior Living, in Maharashtra (106 independent living apartments).

BIG GREEN APPLE

JAMES STAWNICZY, AIA, LEED BD+C

Director of Sustainability

Lend Lease, New York, N.Y.

AGE: 38

BArch, Pratt Institute

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Leads sustainability and LEED training for major property and infrastructure solutions firm, in addition to working with clients in pursuit of green projects. Hosts LEED and Green Building Intranet Portal for Lend Lease staff; has developed templates for construction plans, material tracking, and contract language.

Played classical violin for 12 years; performed at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST

ROB BLALOCK

Vice President, Division Manager

Brasfield & Gorrie, Kennesaw, Ga.

AGE: 38

BS, Auburn University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Oversees management of projects in the Mixed-Use Division for firm’s Georgia regional office. Since 1998, has managed more than $1.1 billion of construction totaling ~8.5 million sf of commercial buildings.

Projects include the 825,000-sf Omni Hotel in Nashville, the $267 million 1075 Peachtree mixed-use office/hotel project, and Perkins+Will’s new LEED Platinum office in Atlanta.

Led division’s implementation of mobile technology and cloud-based document control systems.

AGC Award, three ABC Awards, and Build Georgia Award.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Citizens Medal of Honor from the Atlanta Fire & Rescue Department for pro bono renovation of a fire station.

Member, NAIOP’s inaugural Future Leaders Class.

Volunteer with charities that support women and children: Atlanta Day Shelter, United Way, Atlanta Dream Center, No Longer Bound, and Habitat for Humanity.

OFF THE CLOCK

Hobby: Spending time outdoors, especially in the mountains.

Favorite flick: “Man on Fire.” “The main character’s transformation and love for a little girl is pretty close to my heart, as a father of four girls.”

SECRET LIFE

Spent a year as a ski bum in Vail in his early 20s, skiing six days a week; split his head open twice.

CHARTER SCHOOL PIONEER

BRIANNA GARCÍA, LEED AP BD+C, Assoc. DBIA

Facilities Development Manager, Charter Development

Los Angeles Unified School District

AGE: 38

BArch, Master of Real Estate Development, Master of Planning, University of Southern California

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Joined LAUSD in 2005. Responsible for planning, design, funding, management, and development of major public facilities, notably charter schools.

Handles preconstruction activities for school construction and modernization projects in the $6 million to $80 million range.

Has overseen acquisition of >70 acres of property valued at >$209 million and relocation of 318 commercial/residential tenants.

Coordinates with independent charter operators for the development of long-term charter facilities.

Spearheaded creation of an augmentation grant program to provide gap financing to charters that want to build their own facilities.

Won national championship as a member of JROTC Belles of the Blue Knights Drill Team in high school. “We wore cravats, thigh-high bell skirts, and patent leather go-go boots, and carried rifles.”

CHANGE MANAGER

TANUJA SHUKLA

Chief Strategy Officer,

Senior Vice President

ITSI Gilbane, Walnut Creek, Calif.

AGE: 35

BA, University of California–San Diego

MBA, The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

After serving as Director of Finance for ITSI (formerly Innovative Technical Solutions Inc.), helped manage the firm’s 2010 acquisition by Gilbane. ITSI is a global contractor primarily focused on work for the military market (construction, environmental, fuels, energy).

Leads corporate integration and transition strategies, market entry plans for new ventures, and international expansion efforts.

Trilingual (Hindi, English, Spanish).

Youngest staff member on Gilbane’s committee for Vision 2017, a futures planning initiative.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Helps lead employee volunteer efforts with the Contra Costa and Solano County food banks, the Salvation Army, Wounded Warriors, the Red Cross, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity.

Helped lead an ITSI Gilbane team in upgrades for the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Newport, R.I.

Grew up in a family salmon fishing operation on the Bering Sea. “One day my father and I caught 18,500 pounds of salmon in 18 hours, just the two of us. Almost sank the boat. I have incredibly high standards for seafood.”

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PROBLEM SOLVER

BENJAMIN JOHANNEMAN, LEED AP, EIT, CHC

Vice President/Operations

McCarthy Building Companies, Houston

AGE: 34

BS, University of Kentucky

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

One of firm’s youngest-ever project directors, recently promoted to VP; responsible for preconstruction and construction services for large-scale projects.

Promoted to Associate at Neal Prince Architects at age 32; moved into leadership role at LS3P upon merger in 2011.

Registered architect in South Carolina.

Young Professional of the Year, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 2009.

Greenville Business Magazine, Best and Brightest 35 and Under Award, 2009.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Active in local, state, and national AIA.

With Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Greenville Class 33, led the upgrade of facilities at Safe Harbor emergency shelter. Helped in raising $40,000 for Safe Harbor and procuring a delivery truck for furniture donations.

Chair-elect of the Greenville Chamber’s Leadership Development Board.

Executive Committee, Greenville Professional Women’s Forum.

OFF THE CLOCK

Can’t live without: a cold Diet Coke at 3 p.m.

Addicted to “Downton Abbey.”

SECRET LIFE

Her father invented a way to increase GPS accuracy from 1 meter to 3 centimeters.

Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives; Certified Medical Practice Executive, American College of Medical Practice Executives; Lean Healthcare certification, University of Michigan Department of Engineering.

ACHE Distinguished Service Award; Regent’s Young Executive Award.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Worked with an HDR team, Ohio State University, and the International Poverty Solutions Collaborative to examine community healthcare issues, leading to a 2012 colloquium.